Princess Agents 特工皇妃楚喬傳, Chapter 180 English novel translation

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 

Translator's notes: My friends, this is moment of truth for Xing/Yue fans.  It only took 180 chapters.  Ready? Turn up the A/C and your favorite groove music, because it's going to be hot….. 
-Kero

Chapter 180: Wedding Night

Zhuge Yue had always been a person with a plan for everything.  Once he decided on something, he would methodically take action for the master plan.  Neither being too hasty nor too slow, step by step he would implement what was feasible and practical, and no matter what, he would not change his mind.

So, in the following time that passed, he bathed, changed his outfit, inspected his appearance in the mirror, and of course saw the striking man with straight sword brows and starry eyes looking back at him, uncommonly talented, majestically debonair, handsome and straight, and he was very self-satisfied.   And then he felt a bit nervous, sat down and took a cup of tea. (TN: hahahahahahah)

The tea was already cold, the white porcelain cup with blue flower motif was pinched between his slender fingers.  The light seemed to penetrate the thin cup, as if through a layer of ice that had just entered the winter season.

He leaned against the back of the chair, meticulously calculating what he would say, what he would do, sentence by sentence, very carefully.  Then after envisioning multiple situations he tried to figure out how the other party would respond, how he would then respond, and how he would change the topic of conversation bit by bit, create that ambiguous mood, and take the initiative and grasp the situation with his own hands and let everything seem natural, leaving no trace of his plans. (TN: is he planning a seduction or an assassination....?)

All right.  No problem.

He put the cup down and stood up, but who knew that before his finger could even reach the threshold, someone pushed his door open.

Chu Qiao stood in the doorway, still wearing her off-white dress.  The warm lantern light of the corridor lit up her small face, giving it a lighted warmth.

Holding up a bowl and still braving the hot steam, she tilted her head and her eyes looked him up and down, taking measure of him and their stark contrast.  Her brows frowned slightly at the oddity, and she asked, "It's the middle of the night.  Where are you going dressed like that?"

What the hell was this situation?  Zhuge Yue was slightly shocked as it all seemed to go beyond the boundaries of his plans.  (TN: ^__^;)

But young master Zhuge's ability to adapt was quite commendable, and he immediately responded in earnest, "I've slept too much during the day and I am not sleepy at the moment.  I want to go out for a walk."

"The further north we travel the colder it will be.  The night wind is strong and you're wearing so little, I think it's best if you don't wander around."

Chu Qiao went directly into his room and put the soup bowl onto the table and called him over, "I saw that you didn't eat much earlier.   Come and eat this porridge."

Zhuge Yue went over and saw it was a bowl of very plain white porridge, and sent her sideways glance, "Using something like this to mock me."

Chu Qiao stared at him, "Having anything to eat at all is good enough. You're so picky."

As soon as she said it she stepped up in front of him, pat his head a few times as if he were a puppy, and said very seriously, "After you've eaten go to bed a little early, it's unnecessary to go out and wander."

Then, she turned around and paraded off.

Zhuge Yue was instantly dumbfounded.  What just happened?  His plans were all interrupted.  The prey had just delivered herself to his door, and he just let her strut away?

Why was he still eating this porridge??   (TN: Hahahaha he does exactly as she tells him!  I'm dying….)

He stood up and quit the room.

Because he had to conceal his whereabouts at this time, the this boat was not very large so its corridors were quite cramped, only one person could pass at a time.  As the lanterns shone on his slender figure, he arrived under the lamplight dressed in a long and warm, beautiful moon-white robe with cloud patterns.  (TN:  Did he change again…? ^_^;;)

Step by step, his progress was slow.  The ship's hull swayed to and fro as it rode the vast, large river, just as it had many years ago in that bout of spring rain.  He had stood on the river bank watching that ship that drifted farther and farther away.  The world was dim and cold, and only that lapping flame inside his body burned, never extinguishing, accumulating from beginning to end, from when he was a child until he gradually became an adult, continuously to today. 

A sudden burst of song came forth and his footsteps paused slightly in front of her door.  Her door had not closed shut and a warm stream of light came through.  He only heard the gentle voice of the woman and the sound of the baby boy's babbling.

Under the orange glow of two lanterns, Chu Qiao's white skirt trailed onto the ground and her sleeves were rolled up high. She knelt beside a dark wood basin and was giving Li Ce's little son a bath.  

Rong'er was very fat, and though he was still quite small, the look of his eyes were exactly like his father's.  His eyes were curved, picking up slightly at the ends like a little fox's peach blossom eyes, and when he laughed you almost couldn't see the whites of his eyes.

He was presently sitting in the dark wood basin, his hand fisting a small bell.  As it rung, the sound was very crisp.  In a steady rhythm, the child kept patting the water, splashing Chu Qiao all over.  Every time Chu Qiao cried out in exasperation he would happily clap and laugh out loud. 

"Rong'er be good, don't make trouble."

Chu Qiao tried to communicate with the child, but the child didn't acknowledge her.  His fat little legs thrashed wildly, and nearly half the water in the basin splashed out. 

"There's no need for you to be so naughty.  Your father wasn't even this annoying."

Chu Qiao's upper body was already soaked through, parts of her clothes were even dripping.  (TN: we all know where this is going….)  Rong'er raised his head and cried out, babbling in rebuttal.

"Just look at yourself.  Do you even resemble a prince right now?"

"Yayayaya, wu wu wo wo. Aaaaaaaaaa mmm paa ooh pooh…."

"As soon as I criticize, you still have an opinion?"

"Pah pah aah, puuu aaa nnngh….."

"How about I sing you a song?"

The child blinked his eyes and raised his head to stare at her.  A pair of small, fat hands grabbed onto the material at Chu Qiao's neck, wanting to climb out as if it was matter of life or death.

By his actions and attitude it was obvious that he had no love of baths and had no interest in the words coming from her mouth, let alone anything she had to sing.

However it was as if Chu Qiao didn't see any of it, her excessive personality ignored him and she pat his head, saying, "I'm going to sing now, listen well."

"Boo boo beh meh mmmm nnngh."

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

You make me happy when skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you,

Please don't take my sunshine away."  (TN: in English.  'You are my Sunshine' is an old popular song, originally sung by Johnny Cash.  The lyrics are sad though if you read through it all.  It's about loving someone who loves another, but the singer's devotion continues)

"Yi yi yen aaap aaayaaa yaaa mmm."

The warm and gentle sound of the song was like a mesmerizing, tranquil fragrance, quietly flowing into the the air.  The lights were warm, spreading circles of round spotlight. The woman in the white dress crouched on the floor.  Her long hair spread over her thin shoulders.  The ebony colored wooden basin contained a white and fat little child. 

The woman was enthusiastic as she sang, but the child in the basin ignored her and they both grappled with one another's hands and feet.  The one inside was desperate to climb out while the one outside fiercely tried to keep him down, her persistent mouth continuing to sing with unparalleled sweetness.

No one would be able to understand what she was singing.  Her pronunciation was similar to what Rong'er was saying, and it was definitely a strange thing.  But seeping through the warm melody, one could feel the song's emotions, like a kind mother, or even more so like the deep feelings of a lover.

*Pong*  The little basin finally overturned onto the ground and Rong'er climbed out bare naked, very proud of himself and laughing.  The expression in his eyes bent upward, exactly like his father.

The room was a mess and Chu Qiao's clothes were already wet.  She was slightly disappointed as she looked at this baby, and it was almost like she saw past him and was looking at Li Ce.  She glared at him furiously, "The person is gone and yet he still left this kind of troublesome thing to bully me."

Rong'er laughed happily, turned his white and fat little butt around, and crawled out towards the door.  Chu Qiao was just about to reach out to grab him, but her eyes then saw the man who was leaning against the door frame.

He seemed to have been standing there for quite some time.  The lantern light in the corridor came in, illuminating a halo onto his face.  His eyes were deep and profound, the color of his skin very white.  But it wasn't the white of a scholar who never saw the sun, it was the kind of upper class quality of white, like top quality Hetian white jade.  He was just leaning sideways against the doorframe like that, watching her with plenty of interest.  His expression had a few traces of languor in it, as well as mischief.  The corners of his mouth were not laughing, but his eyes were already smiling.

For a moment she was at a loss for words.

She though perhaps she was bedazzled by this handsome man.

Rong'er shuffled his little white butt left, then right, and then managed to climb up besides the door.  He saw the unexpected visitor, raised his head at a ninety degree angle.  Originally he had wanted to bully him with the backing of a powerful person behind him and scream at the top of his lungs, but perhaps it was because he realized he was not even as tall as his opponent's boots, that he suddenly had a clear view of things and made no sound.

He plopped down and sat there for a while, looked back at Chu Qiao, then raised his head to look at Zhuge Yue again, then looked at his little cradle located next to the bed.  In the recesses of his inner mind an intense struggle was underway, until at last, he let out a sound that was similar to a sigh, and tugged at Zhuge Yue's lower hem.  Zhuge Yue looked down at him and saw that he was pointing to a string of carved jade swords hanging at his waist, his mouth babbling at him.

This was something Zhuge Yue had worn to go with the outfit he wore this night.  The light penetrated the dark green to make it sparkle in the light.  Zhuge Yue untied it and handed it over into the child's hand.

The first thing Rong'er did was stick it in his mouth and bite a few times.  He had not yet grown teeth, nor could he differentiate tastes, but he tightly held it in his hand, and then crawled out the door.

The fat little child wriggled left and then right and crawled to the adjacent room next to Chu Qiao's, sat on the floor, and used his short little legs to heroically pound on the door.

Mei Xiang opened the door with sleepy eyes half open, and as soon as she saw him she happily cried out, and hurriedly took the child into her arms.  Thinking it was strange, she went over to Chu Qiao's room to take a peek.   As soon as she saw Zhuge Yue Mei Xiang's cheeks suddenly went red, and her expression was suddenly happy.  She nodded towards young master Zhuge, and carried the child back into her room.

And just like that, the little hindrance was taken away.

Zhuge Yue though that even though the little guy was a touch annoying, but at least in this kind of situation he understood, just like his father.

As if he had come to his own room he calmly closed the door and then with deliberate steps he went in front of Chu Qiao, looked down at her from his commanding height, extended his hand and said, "Aren't you getting up yet?"

Chu Qiao was a little embarrassed, furrowed her brow in vexation.  What was wrong with her?  Was she really confused by his beauty?

She did not take the extended hand but instead wanted to stand up on her own.  Who knew that as soon as she moved, her foot suddenly gave way.  The floor was so slippery that she cried out, and before she could stand straight she slipped down again.  

The anticipated pain did not come, as Zhuge Yue was quick of eye and deft of hand, and had caught her by the waist.  The warm palm closely attached to the flesh at her waist.  It was impossible for her already drenched clothing to hide her exquisite curves, and it was so closely attached to her body it was even more extravagantly seductive. 

Having crouched on her heels too long her legs were already numb.  Zhuge Yue carried her in his arms and placed her onto the bed.  Her hair was wet, the water droplets dripping downward, her clothing was thoroughly sopping as if she was the one who had been held down in the wooden basin instead.  Zhuge Yue took a quilt from the bed and draped her body with it, then stood in front of her to pull it tightly around her as he said, "Don't catch cold."

The lanterns in the room burned with an ambiguous light, traces of it reflecting onto his face, giving off a hazy, ethereal atmosphere.  He retrieved a dry towel and wrapped her hair into it.  Someone like him actually stood before her, and,  one stroke at a time, he helped her rub her hair dry.  He was very attentive, without saying a word.

Chu Qiao's palms were sweating a little.  The room felt as though it had suddenly become very hot.  Wrapped in a thick quilt her sweat flowed down her wet clothing.  Her skin felt sticky and the quilt was damp and warm.  A few strands of hair fell onto her forehead, blocking her line of sight in front.  Through her hair she could only see the rustling clouds on his moon white colored robes.  Circle after circle it made her dizzy looking at the pattern.

"What song were you singing just then?"

Zhuge Yue suddenly asked, the sound so very gentle, but also a bit husky like a man.  It was very pleasing to hear as it echoed faintly in the air, drumming in her ears.

Raising her head she looked this face, so handsome it was downright unreasonable, and his scent was so pleasant it just made her want to fall asleep peacefully.

Zhuge Yue saw that she hadn't responded, gently picked his brows up, and asked, "Xing'er?"

"You Are My Sunshine."

Zhuge Yue was a bit surprised, asking, "This is language from your world?"

"Mmm,"  Chu Qiao honestly nodded her head.

"Sing it for me."

His voice seemed to have magical powers on this night, making her not want to argue and squabble with him as usual.  She slowly took a few deep breaths. The clean and gentle sound slightly echoed in the air, like a very thin rain of the first spring, quietly hitting a lotus pond, splashing little star-like bursts into the water.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

You make me happy when skies are grey."

The sound of the song seemed to grow wings, faintly soaring through those years past.  

From the first meeting, to the road of struggle and strife.  Life was an uncultivated field of wild grass, never knowing when you'd be buried in a pitfall, and never knowing where you would see a bright new vista for a new life.  He stood in front of her, his long slender fingers through her dark black hair to help her dry it, as if he was stirring up the ripples of years past.  The material of his clothing was so soft, her head leaned against his waist, as she softly sang her favorite song from her past life.

"You'll never know, dear, how much I love you,

Please don't take my sunshine away."

The warmth in the room caused her to remember a time many years past, back to to her days at Sheng Luo An Orphanage.

The dean was an old soldier who had gone to war for eight years, an old veteran of the Korean War conflict.  In battle he had lost a leg and shot down an American plane.  When he retired, he used his pension to open an orphanage in his hometown specifically to adopt children without parents.  She was unlike other orphans.  She was fortunate, he had been a very good grandfather, and afterwards her grandfather paid her way through school.  There she asked her friends to come and join the military academy with her, join the army, be a soldier and defend the country.

She also did not betray her grandfather's hopes for her.  It took little for her to grow up to be strong and healthy, her grades excelled, her mind proved to be flexible.  She had kindness and integrity and finally she entered the military, entered the command post, and entered the National Military Intelligence Office.  For her, everything went along a broad, well-planned road without any bumps in her path.  

From a very young age her grandfather had told her that to be a soldier was to loyally love one's country, protect it, its people and the weak.  He told her so many war stories and told her that being an adult meant being honest and trustworthy, as well as have personal integrity.  He told of the meaning of living with principles.  She was like a sapling growing under the care of her grandfather until she was grown up.  She still even remembered how happy her grandfather was the first time she completed her first assignment.  His wrinkles trembled under the sunlight, his chest shook as he laughed.  Her grandfather hugged her, happily calling her his filial granddaughter.  

That was the happiest day of her life. She had the dearest person who loved her most in the world, receiving one of the warmest embraces of the world.

Grandfather had studied abroad in the United Kingdom and he studied foreign languages, so he taught her English, taught her Western etiquette and even taught her how to waltz.

Left, right, left, right, transverse, converge three steps, spin….

Then there was the song her grandfather taught her:

"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping,

I dreamed I held you in my arms.

When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken,

Please don't take my sunshine away."

She suddenly reached out and hugged Zhuge Yue's waist.  The shadows from the candles were like a circling halos.  They flew and danced in the corners of the room, each tiny spot of flame floating away, swaying, flitting across the window.  Atop the water the boat rocked, the landscape from both shores seemed to fly away.  Indistinctly, they seemed to be able to hear the sound of the wind as it blew across.

"Xing'er,"  Zhuge Yue lowered his head and asked, "What does the song say?"

For some reason Chu Qiao's face suddenly turned red and she lowered her head, saying nothing.

From above a warm breath blew down, his chest slightly trembled, and Chu Qiao knew he was laughing, silently, though she still knew.

"It sounds pleasant."

Zhuge Yue crouched down, looked straight at her and smiled as he said, "I really like it."

Chu Qiao didn't really dare to look into his eyes, and looked looked left and right as she spoke, "Why are you here again?  It's rather late."

"I missed someone, so I was unable to sleep."

Chu Qiao was a bit stunned as he suddenly said something like that, and abruptly lost the ability of speech.

"That person is very pretty, very adorable, but is a bit foolish.  If I am even a little bit careless and don't keep watch, this person may self inflict wounds; this person gets lost quite easily, easily disappears, is easily kidnapped by others.  So even if I keep a close distance to this person, I cannot be at ease.  If I don't see this person at least once, I'm worried I won't be able to sleep."

Chu Qiao's face was bright red now. Like a thief she quietly looked up and glanced at Zhuge Yue, whispering, "How am I as foolish as you make it sound?"

"Even more foolish than I've said," Zhuge Yue's eyes were sparkling, and he laughed loud and clear when he added, "But I have no idea how that fellow Li Ce could produce such a favored child.  He makes me really worried."

Chu Qiao was stunned, suddenly realizing that she had been played, and used her fist to take a whack at him but Zhuge Yue caught it.

His hand was large and warm as it tightly wrapped around her fist.

She never knew that his hand had such strength, so strong even that she couldn't even move her hand a little.

He slowly moved closely forward, the look in his eyes were like two dark, deep pools.  She was unable to see how the great billowing waves inside churned and tossed about.

His voice was deep and husky as he said softly by her ear, "This is your punishment for making mischief in broad daylight."

As soon as he said it he bowed his head down to kiss her lips.  She suddenly was so nervous she didn't know what to do.  Certainly she had already lived two lifetimes, and it wasn't like she'd never had any experience receiving a kiss, but for whatever reason, every time she faced him she was still always nervous and a complete mess, so much so that she didn't even know where to put her hands or feet.

But, she closed her eyes and waited for quite some time and realized he wasn't moving.  She carefully and cautiously opened her eyes in a thin line, and saw that someone was grinning broadly under the lamplight as he watched her.  Seeing that she was peeking he came forward, his breath on her face as she said, "Were you waiting for me to kiss you?"

"Zhuge Yue!"  Chu Qiao was angry as she shoved him, "You're such a bully!"

He suddenly embraced her, and she was so taken by surprise.  He held her so forcefully that the quilt and the cotton towel both went flying.  He pulled her face over and kissed her hard, binding her ever so tightly, so urgently, as if he wanted to knead himself into her body.

Once, twice, three times….

"Chu Qiao."

He looked at her and suddenly called her by her name.  In his eyes it was as if a large inferno was raging, without blinking, he only steadily said, "Marry me."

Chu Qiao was suddenly astonished.  The lanterns lit up Zhuge Yue's face so that half was in light and the other half hidden in shadow. He looked a bit unreal.  Her ears seemed to be hearing things and she was at a loss as to what to do.  She wanted to say something and she opened her mouth but didn't know how she should answer.

"Xing'er," he said as he quietly looked at her, again calling her by this name.

Her head was a bit fuzzy as she answered, "Hmm?"

"I love you."

As if a bomb had exploded over her head, Chu Qiao felt as though her own face was burning, her body temperature was rapidly rising, and her thoughts felt as though someone had added cement to them, all at once solidifying.  She watched him in a daze.  In her chest there was a kind of happy and flurried thing beating for all it was worth.  Chu Qiao used her hand to rub it, as if it would leap out of her chest if she didn't press it down.

"I've loved you for a long time, do you know?"

His words were light and airy as he spoke to her, as if they were speaking of other people's affairs, without any uneasiness or bewilderment. 

Chu Qiao nodded, "I know."

"Then what about you?" His eyes were too bright.  Chu Qiao felt as if she would suffocate and die. 

She drummed up her courage and whispered, "Me too."

He definitely refused to let it go at that, smiled and asked, "What about you?"

This boat is really small, Chu Qiao thought to herself at this time.  Why were the rooms so small and so hot?  She was almost gasping for air.

"Say it."  He aggressively leaned forward, gently pinching her pointed chin as he said, "What about you?"

"I also,"  Chu Qiao used force to grip onto his fist.  The corresponding tableau of their long and arduous journey came at full speed.  "I love you too."

I love you too….

The sound was so light, all at once it pierced through the night's darkness, and illuminated a smile on his face.  He kissed her forehead and asked, "Since when did you start?"

Since when?

She didn't know.  Perhaps from the time they met again at the base of XiZhao Mountain.  Or maybe it was that time they had released lanterns during the Lantern Festival in Xian Yang.  Or maybe it was when they were under Qian Zhang Lake, and he told her one syllable at a time, "Keep on living."

Or perhaps it was even earlier than that.  From when he held her at Meishan Mausoleum, or that huge and ambiguous misunderstanding in WuPeng City, the mutual support along the road and tacit agreement while fighting shoulder to shoulder, or the tears she shed in Bian Tang after he had saved her from the clutches of Zhao Chun'er.  Or perhaps she could trace it back more than ten years, from that room filled with the scent of orchids, when the unyielding teenager used a white handkerchief to wipe her tears and snot.  It was like this, one action at a time, one after another, willfully, stubbornly, recklessly entering her heart. 

Without any greeting.  Without asking if she consented or not.

"I don't know."

She reached out her hand to straighten out the slightly wrinkle of dissatisfaction in his brow, as she said, "Perhaps it was from a really, really long time ago.  So long that I don't even know.  I can't clearly pinpoint which time it was."

She leaned into his chest and softly said, "Perhaps it was many instances, accumulating a little bit at a time.  I can't remember."

"Such a simpleton."

He hugged her, suddenly laughed, and said, "Actually I can't remember either."

Right, perhaps it was like that.  Neither of them knew which time it was exactly.  Love always came quietly.  When you finally realized it, it had already deeply taken root.

He lowered his head and kissed her, kissed her lips, her face, her earlobe, her neck, extending little by little until he kissed her thin collarbone. 

Chu Qiao's body became softer and softer, bit by bit snuggling up to his body.  Zhuge Yue's body became scorching hot.  The hand at her waist gradually moved upward, exploring further and further.  Like a raging fire, it gradually burned away only her accumulated reason.

"Ya!"

Chu Qiao suddenly exclaimed as she felt the the earth and sky spinning,  and someone embraced her closely as she was pressed sideways across the bed.

More than half of her clothing was already wet, so wearing it and not wearing it was almost the same.

As he looked at her like that, the space between his brows lightly knit together, like he was pondering over something, his eyes were scalding.

She could hear his heavy breathing next to her ear, his wet lips sucked on her earlobe, and she went lip and numb as if an electric shock abruptly aroused her.  The straps on the side of her outer jacket were skillfully undone, revealing her short, beige undergarment embroidered with a yellow bird inside.

Her smooth and rounded shoulders were exposed to the air and it was slightly cold.  Thin and slender fingers lightly swept across them, triggering a slow shudder.  As she lay sideways, a little finger picked, and the straps at her neck slipped away, and her clothes were suddenly falling down.  Chu Qiao was surprised and instinctively pulled them closer, and just as she did she heard a short laugh over her head.

"Shy?"

Chu Qiao strenuously wanted to get away from his embrace, and in a muddleheaded way pointed at the lanterns at the foot of the bed, her voice unreasonably husky, and cried out pitifully, "Blow out the lights."

Zhuge Yue was suddenly smiling happily.  Though he continued to maintain his consistent appearance, he turned his head and didn't make a sound, but there was definitely a upward curvature to the corners of his mouth.

All around it was quiet without a sound.  Occasionally they could hear the sound of waterfowl flying over the river as it flapped its wings.

He held on to her waist and by her ear he spoke low, "Don't be afraid."

The brocade was smooth and sleek.  The instant his kiss fell she was in a trance and drowning.  It triggered a weak layer of moisture on her skin, her body gradually started to boil.  Clothing was removed, layer by layer, until only the coy body was left.

Smooth, snow white, like the colored glaze of a jade, sculpted with superb craftsmanship.  This was territory that no one had ever set foot, swaying with youthful vitality and melodious movement.  He gently covered over it, skin to skin, like a rolling fire, little by little, igniting passion.  

Her breath was completely swallowed, her face pressed against his shoulder.  Abruptly she saw that hideous wound.  Her body froze and produced a cold shiver.

He felt it, and rushed to use his hand to cover her eyes, and he whispered, "Don't look."

She pulled away his hand and stretched out trembling hands to encircle his shoulders, the soft skin of her cheek pressed against the wound.  Her tears flowed down in columns, snaking their way down onto the black and red scar.  Zhuge Yue silently gathered her into his arms without saying a word, and just quietly watched her as she cried.

On the day Li Ce was buried she had sworn she would never again shed tears.  But at this moment, when she saw his scar, saw the place that she herself had stabbed, she still felt awful to the extreme.  She hugged him tightly, as if she was afraid if she let go he would disappear.  Just like that time long ago in that lake, as soon as she let go she was no longer able to see him.

"Zhuge Yue, I'm sorry."

She sobbed.

"Simpleton."

Zhuge Yue kissed her billowing hair, lightly smiling as he said, "I have been scarred by you, so you must now take responsibility for me."

Chu Qiao knew he was joking and she simultaneously sobbed and gave a retort, "The wound, on your shoulder…doesn't count.  It doesn't count as that type of scar."

Zhuge Yue laughed under his breath, his two pupils were black like a deep pond, bottomless, where only her reflection, like a delicate lotus flower, could be seen.  His soft lips gently kissed the tears from her face, murmuring under his breath, "Don't care.  I want you to take responsibility."

The strength of his arms was so powerful it hurt a little, but in that pain she was so happy, like a vast, boundless sea of joy.

How good it was that they still had today.  Once upon a time she had though everything had suddenly come to a halt, ruined in the biting cold lake water, everything coming to a place of no return.

The movements went deeper and deeper, and a fine sweat slid down the forehead.  They were surrounded by the azure waves of the river, with no sound of others.  Presently, time seemed to move directly.  The wind also stopped blowing.  Only the two of them were left behind, united in this beautiful moment.

The side of her lips couldn't help but cry out in discomfort, the pain made her body bend like a bow, and a warm, sanguine smell flowed in between her legs, slightly red, like vermillion.

His movements suddenly solidified, a trace of incredulity flashed between his eyes, and soon afterwards he looked at her deeply, as if piercing through the layers of dense fog, then he looked towards the far lanterns outside, as if seeking the way to go forward.

Her face was so very red, her lips were also swollen red, her hands pulling the bedding, nervously covering her chest.  Seeing his gaze return and wait for a while, without a sound.

Then he suddenly laughed in a way that she had never seen him laugh before.  At first it started with only a slight opening of his mouth, but then he gradually laughed out loud, the sound growing louder and louder, until Chu Qiao felt compelled to place a small hand to attempt to cover his mouth.

He suddenly buried his head into the hollow of her neck, and he whispered, "Xing'er, I'm so happy."

Her thin arms wrapped around his waist.  His figure was quite good, like a Calvin Klein jeans model on TV.  She grinned happily in the dark.  The red candle gradually extinguished, the candle's tears wriggled down to its base.  She smiled as she thought, This is my wedding night candle.

Separated by so many people, so many occurrences, for so long a time; their country's enmity, the hatred between their families, separated by life and death, this life and past life, step by step, and still arriving at today.

She immersed herself into his shoulder, and deliberately let her tears flow.

Translator's notes:  Is it hot, or is it just me?  Our favorite couple has hit a home run.  I'm happy for them.  Now, where's my bucket of cold water?  @__@ 

Now that our couple has united in mind, soul and body, I'm not as much in a hurry to translate the rest of the novel.  I do want to know what happens to them, as I'm sure you all do, but our time with Princess Agents novel translations in English will soon come to an end.  I'm feeling nostalgic so I'll go a bit slower since we're nowhere near Season 2.  I will probably watch Season 1 again ^__^;
  - Kero